This option envisions charging a toll for a motorist's use of a transportation facility such as a limited access roadway or bridge. Collection of the toll can occur through tollbooths, electronic tolling or other means. Toll rates can be variable, depending on the purpose of the toll. Tolls are a true user fee that taxes only those who use a particular facility. Electronic tolling can eliminate congestion caused by traditional toll booths.
Public pressure, however, can make tolling politically difficult. Some motorists and truck drivers may feel unfairly burdened by tolls, and there may be a perception that the public should not be forced to pay for a road that is already built. Tolls also can be viewed as disproportionately affecting low-income motorists who can less afford to pay. Some may view tolls as double taxation because motorists already pay motor fuel taxes. In additional, although technological advances can speed the time of toll collection, tolls frequently are associated with long lines and high emissions at toll booths. Tolls sometimes can be expensive to collect-as high as 22 percent of gross revenue in some jurisdictions.17 High-occupancy tolls (HOT), used in California, Colorado and Virginia, allow single occupants of vehicles to access HOV facilities by paying a toll. HOT lanes have the ability to shift traffic from free congested lanes to less congested tolled high-occupancy lanes.